Coupling means for sewer rod

ABSTRACT

Coupling means connects short individual sections of steel rod into a long continuous length of rod, for clearing obstructions in underground pipe, sewers and other conduits, and provides transmission of applied axial and torque forces from one rod to the next without slippage therebetween and without loss of power. The ends of the rods are shaped symmetrically relative to the center axis. Several different coupling means are disclosed.

United States Patent [191 Caperton Dec. 18, 1973 COUPLING MEANS FORSEWER ROD [76] Inventor: Charles B. Caperton, 52 Pitney Ave,

Springlake, NJ. 07762 [22] Filed: June 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 260,142

[52] U.S. Cl. .,...4 393 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6b 7/18 [58] Field of Search287/105, 116, 104,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,759 8/1939 Betzing287/104 2,315,414 3/1943 Germany 287/104 1,975,244 10/1934 Wiseman287/105 X Primary Examiner-Andrew V. Kundrat Attorneyl-lenry N. Paul,Jr. et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT Coupling means connects short individual sections of steelrod into a long continuous length of rod, for clearing obstructions inunderground pipe, sewers and other conduits, and provides transmission,of applied axial and torque forces from one rod to the next withoutslippage therebetween and without loss of power. The ends of the rodsare shaped symmetrically relative to the center axis. Several differentcoupling means are disclosed.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures COUPLING MEANS FOR SEWER ROD BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to couplers for connecting togethershort sections of cylindrical spring-steel rod to form a continuouslength of rod which may be pushed into a sewer or other pipe or conduitfor the purpose of clearing obstructions therein. Each section of rodmay, for example, have a length of the order of 39 inches. Thecontinuous length of rod which results from coupling together the shortsections may have a length of the order of 900-1000 feet. At theforemost extremity of the coupled rod, a suitable tool is connected forperforming a particular clearing operation. Such tool may, for example,be an auger bit, a root saw, a centrifugal cutter, or any other of alarge variety of tools especially adapted for the purpose. In order forthe tool, particularly a cutting tool, to be effective, it is necessaryfor the coupled rod to be rotated axially. Thus, the couplers must beable to transmit torsional forces from one rod to the next, as well asto transmit axial forces, i.e., push and pull forces.

Couplers have been provided by the prior art but such couplers havecertain disadvantages, which will be pointed out. These prior artcouplers have two axially spaced holes, on opposite sides at its sidewall, for receiving theterminal ends of the two rod sections which areto be connectedtogether. The rod sections, when coupled, do notphysically touch each other. The connection is through the coupler. Inorder for the terminal end of each rod section to be inserted into thehole in the side wall of the coupler, the short terminal end of the rodmust be bent at right angles to its longitudinal axis. This has beenpossible with spring steel rod of a diameter of one-fourth inchfive-eighths inch. A demand has arisen, however, for heavier springsteel rod, and the bending at right angles of the short terminal end ofsuch rod presents a difficult problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention isto provide coupling means for sections of spring steel rod which doesnot require bending of the short terminal end of each rod at rightangles to its axis.

Another object is to provide coupling means as aforesaid in which theends of the rod sections are shaped symmetrically on either side of thecenter axis.

Another object is to provide coupling means in which the two rodsections connect physically with each other, with the coupling meansproviding the necessary clamping force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 6 is a side view, partly insection, of still another form of coupling means according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, of yet another form ofcoupling means according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view, in section, looking along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an end view, in section, looking along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view, in section, looking along the line 10-10 of FIG.8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to thespecies shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the terminal ends of cylindrical rodsections 10 and are flattened and dished into generally similarspoon-like shapes 11 and 16, respectively, adapted for nesting orinter-fitting, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. It is to be notedthat these dished ends 11 and 16 are symmetrical on each side of thecenter axis of the rods. This is one of the features which distinguishesover the prior art rod section ends which were bent at right angles toform an L-shaped end.

Referring now to coupler 20, the coupler 20 comprises two componentsparts and 40. Component part 30, which is the larger of the two, isgenerally cylindrical and has an open end internally-threaded at 31.Beyond the internally-threaded end portion is, in order, a major recess32, a minor recesss 33, and a cylindrical through hole 34 in the end ofthe part. The major recess 32 is rectangular in cross section, as bestseen in FIG. 3. Recess 32 is of such size as to allow the inter-fitteddished ends 11 and 16 to be slip-fitted snugly into the rectangularrecess 32. The shoulder 35 at the junction of the major and minorrecesses 32 and 33 is beveled for receiving the inclined surface 12formed at the junction of the dished end 11 with the cylindrical rod 10.

The other component part of coupler 20 has an externally threaded shank41 adapted to be received within the internally threaded open-endportion of component part 30. Part 40 has a central recess 42 in theshank portion 41 and a through hole 43 through which the cylindrical rod15 passes. The interior edge 45 of the annular shank 41 is beveled forhearing against the inclined surface 17 formed at the junction of thedished end 16 and the cylindrical rod 15.

It will be seen that in the form of coupling means shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3, if either an axial or a torsional force is applied to one of therods 10 and 15, such force is transmitted by the coupling means to theother rod without any loss. For example, if a rotational force isapplied to rod section 15, such force will be transmitted through theinter-fitted dished ends 16 and 1 l, which are snugly fitted in recess32, to the other rod section 10. Similarly, if an axial force, in eitherdirection, is applied to either of the rod sections, such force will betransmitted through the coupling means 20 to the other rod section.

It is to be noted that in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, since bothends of both rod sections 10 and 15 are flattened and dished, and sincethe coupling elements 30 and 40 cannot be slid onto the cylindrical rodsections 10 and 15 after both ends have been formed, it is necessarythat the coupler elements 30 and 40 be placed on the cylindrical rodsections at least prior to the forming of the second end.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another form of coupling means comprising acoupler 120 having two component parts 130 and 140 which function tocouple together the rod sections 110 and 115. In this embodiment, theends of the rod sections 110 and 115 are formed, as by milling orotherwise, into the shapes illustrated wherein each of the ends of eachof rod sections 110 and 115 has a transverse groove, 111 and 116,respectively, inward of the end of the rod leaving between the grooveand the end of the rod section a flange portion 112 and 117,respectively, which is adapted to enter into the groove of the otherrod.

Coupler part 130 has an internally-threaded open end portion 131, arecess 132, and a through hole 133 through which the cylindrical rodsection 110 passes. Coupler part 140 has an externally-threaded shank141 having therein a recess 142, and a through hole 143 through whichthe cylindrical rod 115 passes.

Unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3, the formed ends of the rodsections 110 and 115 in FIGS. 4 and 5 will pass through the through hole133 and 143. Accordingly, the coupler elements 130 and 140 may beinserted onto the rods 110 and 115 after the ends are formed. It is tobe noted, in FIGS. 4 and 5, that the depth of the grooves 111 and 116,and the height of the flanges 112 and 117, are such that when the endsof the adjacent rod sections 110 and 115 are inter-fitted orinterlocked, the center axis of the one rod section 110 is not in axialalignment with that of the other. Accordingly, in FIGS. 4 and 5, thethrough hole 143 in element 140 is the coupler element 140 not on thecenter axis of the element 140. As a result, a portion of the end face114 of rod section 110 projects laterally beyond the cylindrical surfaceof rod section 115 forming a shoulder against which the coupler part 140presses when the two coupler parts 130 and 140 are tightened. Similarly,the end face 118 of rod section 115 has a portion which projectslaterally beyond the cylindrical surface of rod section 110, forming ashoulder against which the coupler part 130 presses when the couplerparts 130 and 140 are tightened. As a result, the interfitted ends ofthe two rod sections 110 and 115 are clamped tightly together, and bothaxial and torsional forces applied to one of the rod sections aretransmitted without loss to the other.

It is to be noted that the coupler part 140, being mounted eccentricallyon rod section 115, is not rotatable within part 130, but that part 130is rotatable on part 140. Thus, the two component parts 130 and 140 ofthe coupler 120 are screwed together by rotating part 130 onto part 140.

FIG. 6 shows yet another form of coupling means comprising the coupler220 having component parts 230 and 240. The ends of the rod sections 210and 215 are formed in the manner shown in FIG. 6. It will be seen thatthe formation is generally similar to that of FIG. 4 except that theexternal surfaces of the flanged end portions 212 and 217 are taperedfor receiving, respectively, the beveled or inclined inward surfaces 234and 244 of the coupling elements 230 and 240. It will be seen that whenthe coupler parts 230 and 240 are screwed tightly together, by rotatingpart 230 onto part 240, the inter-fitted ends of the rod sections 210and 215 are tightly interlocked and that axial and/or torsional forcesapplied to one of the rod sections are transmitted without loss to theother rod section.

Three embodiments have been illustrated and described. Variousmodifications may be made. For example, in the form shown in FIGS. 1-3,it is not essential that the ends 11 and 16 be dished. They could beflat. It is preferable, however, that the ends be dished since suchdished shape contributes toward translating into a lateral or radialforce component any axial force which may be applied to the rodsections. Since such lateral or radial force is opposed by thecylindrical body of the coupler part 30, the dished shape helps to keepthe two rod sections tightly together during pulling or pushing of therod.

However, since the inclined surfaces 12, 35, 17 and 45 also translateaxial force into a lateral force component, dishing of the rod ends isnot essential.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the interlocked end portionsof the two rods may be flattened, as shown in FIGS. 7-10 to forminclined shoulders 113 and 119 comparable to that of shoulders 12 and 17of FIG. 1. If this be done, the end-face shoulders 114 and 118 of FIGS.4-6 are not essential, and the rod sections may be connected togetherwith their center axes in axial alignment, as seen in FIGS. 7-10. Therecesses 132-142 which receive the flattened ends 112 and 117 arecircular in cross-section and have a diameter corresponding to theincreased width of the flattened ends, and the inclined shoulders 113and 119 may fit into niches or bear against inclined surfaces at thejunction of recesses 132 and 142 with holes 133 and 143, respectively.

It will be seen that, by the present invention, means are provided forcoupling together axially two rod sections without the necessity ofbending the ends of the rods at right angles to the rod axis, and thatthis is done by matingly shaping the ends of the rods, overlapping theshaped ends, and using the coupler to clamp the overlapped ends sotightly that torsional and axial forces may be transmitted from one rodsection to the other without loss.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a. a plurality of cylindrical metal rods,

a-l. each rod having its opposite ends shaped symmetrically relative tothe longitudinal axis of the rod;

a-2. end portions of the rods being flattened and spread symmetricallyto both sides of the rod center axis;

a-3. said flattend spread end portions of said rods forming inclinedshoulders at their junction with the cylindrical portion of said rod;

b. coupling means for connecting said rods axially together inoverlapping manner. for transmitting axial and torsional forces from onerod to an adjacent rod without substantial loss, said coupling meanscomprising:

b-l. first and second coupler components;

b-2. said first coupler component being open at one end and having aninternal recess;

b-3. said second coupler component having a shank adapted to be receivedwithin said first coupler component;

b-4. said recess of said first coupler component being adapted toreceive overlapping portions of the ends of two adjacent rods;

b- S. said recess of said first coupler component being rectangular incross section and of a size and shape to receive snugly the overlappingspread end portions of adjacent rods;

b-6. said first and second coupler components having inclined innersurfaces adapted to bear against said inclined shoulders.

2. The combination according to claim 1 characterized in that saidoverlapping spread end portions are dished.

3. In combination:

a. a plurality of cylindrical metal rods,

a-l. each rod having its opposite ends shaped to provide a transversegroove inward of the rod end and a flange between said groove andterminal ends of the rod:

a-2. said flange at the end of one rod fitting into the groove of theadjacent rod when said rods are connected together in an overlappedmanner;

b. coupling means for connecting said rods axially together inoverlapped nammer for transmitting axial and torsional forces from onerod to an adjacent rod without substantial loss, said coupling meanscomprising:

b-l. first and second coupler components;

b-2. said first coupler component being open at one end and having aninternal recess;

b-3. said second coupler component having a shank adapted to be receivedwithin said first coupler component;

b-4. said recess of said first coupler component being adapted toreceive overlapping portions of the ends of two adjacent rods;

b-S. said second coupler component having an external threaded shank anda through bore located off the central axis of the shank.

4. The combination according to claim 3 characterized in that:

a. the exterior surface of the flange portion is tapered;

b. internal portions of said first and second coupler components haveinclined surfaces for bearing against the tapered surfaces of the flangeportions.

5. In combination:

a. a plurality of cylindrical metal rod sections;

a-l. each rod section having its opposite integral end portionsflattened and spread to both sides of the center axis of the rod sectionso as to form a substantially rectangular cross-sectional end portion;

a-2. said flattened spread end portions forming at each end of the rodopposing flat surfaces and inclined shoulders at their junction with thecylindrical portion of said rod;

a-3. one of said opposing flat surfaces being provided with a transversegroove inward of the end of the rod section forming a flange betweensaid groove and the terminal end of the rod section;

a4. said flange at the end of one rod section fitting into the groove ofthe adjacent rod section when said rods are interfitted together inoverlapping manner;

b. coupling means for connecting said rod sections axially together inoverlapping manner for transmitting axial and torsional forces from onerod section to an adjacent rod section without substantial loss, saidcoupling means comprising:

b-ll. first and second coupler components;

b-2. said first coupler component having at one end an internallythreaded shank and an internal recess of circular cross-section inwardof said threaded portion of said shank;

b-3. said second coupler component having an externally threaded shankand an internal recess of circular cross-section substantiallycoextensive with said externally threaded portion of said shank;

b-4. said recesses of first and second coupler components havingdiameters corresponding to the width of said flattened spread endportions of said rod section, and adapted to receive overlappinginterfitted end portions of two adjacent rods;

b-S. said coupler components having inclined surfaces adapted to bear inopposing directions against said shoulders of said rod sections whensaid coupler components are threaded together and tightened.

1. In combination a. a plurality of cylindrical metal rods, a-1. eachrod having its opposite ends shaped symmetrically relative to thelongitudinal axis of the rod; a-2. end portions of the rods beingflattened and spread symmetrically to both sides of the rod center axis;a-3. said flattend spread end portions of said rods forming inclinedshoulders at their junction with the cylindrical portion of said rod; b.coupling means for connecting said rods axially together in overlappingmanner for transmitting axial and torsional forces from one rod to anadjacent rod without substantial loss, said coupling means comprising:b-1. first and second coupler components; b-2. said first couplercomponent being open at one end and having an internal recess; b-3. saidsecond coupler component having a shank adapted to be received withinsaid first coupler component; b-4. said recess of said first couplercomponent being adapted to receive overlapping portions of the ends oftwo adjacent rods; b-5. said recess of said first coupler componentbeing rectangular in cross section and of a size and shape to receivesnugly the overlapping spread end portions of adjacent rods; b-6. saidfirst and second coupler components having inclined inner surfacesadapted to bear against said inclined shoulders.
 2. The combinationaccording to claim 1 characterized in that said overlapping spread endportions are dished.
 3. In combination: a. a plurality of cylindricalmetal rods, a-1. each rod having its opposite ends shaped to provide atransverse groove inward of the rod end and a flange between said grooveand terminal ends of the rod: a-2. said flange at the end of one rodfitting into the groove of the adjacent rod when said rods are connectedtogether in an overlapped manner; b. coupling means for connecting saidrods axially together in overlapped nammer for transmitting axial andtorsional forces from one rod to an adjacent rod without substantialloss, said coupling means comprising: b-1. first and second couplercomponents; b-2. said first coupler component being open at one end andhaving an internal recess; b-3. said second coupler component having ashank adapted to be received within said first coupler component; b-4.said recess of said first coupler component being adapted to receiveoverlapping portions of the ends of two adjacent rods; b-5. said secondcoupler component having an external threaded shank and a through borelocated off the central axis of the shank.
 4. The combination accordingto claim 3 characterized in that: a. the exterior surface of the flangeportion is tapered; b. internal portions of said first and secondcoupler components have inclined surfaces for bearing against thetapered surfaces of the flange portions.
 5. In combination: a. aplurality of cylindrical metal rod sections; a-1. each rod sectionhaving its opposite integral end portions flattened and spread to bothsides of the center axis of the rod section so as to form asubstantially rectangular cross-sectional end portion; a-2. saidflattened Spread end portions forming at each end of the rod opposingflat surfaces and inclined shoulders at their junction with thecylindrical portion of said rod; a-3. one of said opposing flat surfacesbeing provided with a transverse groove inward of the end of the rodsection forming a flange between said groove and the terminal end of therod section; a-4. said flange at the end of one rod section fitting intothe groove of the adjacent rod section when said rods are interfittedtogether in overlapping manner; b. coupling means for connecting saidrod sections axially together in overlapping manner for transmittingaxial and torsional forces from one rod section to an adjacent rodsection without substantial loss, said coupling means comprising: b-1.first and second coupler components; b-2. said first coupler componenthaving at one end an internally threaded shank and an internal recess ofcircular cross-section inward of said threaded portion of said shank;b-3. said second coupler component having an externally threaded shankand an internal recess of circular cross-section substantiallycoextensive with said externally threaded portion of said shank; b-4.said recesses of first and second coupler components having diameterscorresponding to the width of said flattened spread end portions of saidrod section, and adapted to receive overlapping interfitted end portionsof two adjacent rods; b-5. said coupler components having inclinedsurfaces adapted to bear in opposing directions against said shouldersof said rod sections when said coupler components are threaded togetherand tightened.